The Bags — Rock Starve

Author: tracysigler | Posted: July 26th, 2007 | | Tags: , , , , , | 6 Comments »
  • Artist: The Bags
  • Title: Rock Starve
  • Year: 1987
  • Format: Vinyl 12 in.
  • Rating (1-10): 9
  • Owner: Tracy
  • Acquired: 1987 – Promo when I worked at Mother’s Records in Hampton, VA
  • Keeper: Yes

The Bags put the rawk in punk rock, and there’s a trace of Motorhead-style metal in there too. There is a great review excerpt of Rock Starve from Playboy at Wikipedia. This is the only Bags record I have, but I also have a record by them under the name Swamp Oaf. I got this one as a promo and it included something like a media kit, really just a copy of a few articles about the band.

I never got to see The Bags live but I’m sure they tear the roof off at every show. The good news is, despite some extended breaks, the band still exists. I just came across their page at MySpace. Lyrically, they seem to have moved more in the direction of Spinal Tap and I can’t say I like the new songs quite as much as the now 20 years old Rock Starve, but they’re still rocking it. I like all of the songs on this record but my favorite is “Spread It Around.”

I’m gonna pass it on to strangers
And give it to my friends
Lay low for a little while
Until it comes my way again
Why-y-y-y-y-y should I keep it to myself
When I could be sharing it with someone else

“Spread It Around” — The Bags

6 Comments on “The Bags — Rock Starve”

  1. 1 J said at 2:42 pm on August 10th, 2007:

    I was in a band (Bad Tequila Experience) that played with THE BAGS on one date of the Rock Starve tour. It was in Blacksburg, Virginia 1988 at the Cellar. Incredible show, incredible band. The whole place shook with Jim’s bass drum. We went on to play “Deviled Egg” and “Warm Words” for years. . . The Bags rock very hard.

  2. 2 r0m23 said at 9:02 pm on September 22nd, 2008:

    wow. i picked up a sealed copy of Rock Starve at a used book/record store in Lake Tahoe (CA) over the weekend…. i snapped it up because i thought it would be a hilarious, way-past their prime LA Bags (aka Alice Bag Band), but it turns out it’s the Boston Bags. I’m about 30 seconds into the second track, so I can’t really say how much I like it. But it’s way above average for a random used bookstore buy, I will give it that. What do you think, was this re-pressed at some point, or am I the first person to listen to this slab that’s been floating around since 1987??

  3. 3 Peter said at 12:15 pm on July 20th, 2009:

    It is a classic of the Boston rock and roll scene from the mid to late ’80’s It’s been out of print for a long time, so it’s very likely that you are the first to hear it since ’87. You are a lucky person!

  4. 4 Baggage Handler said at 7:20 pm on May 15th, 2014:

    I must say that are cent rummaging through my old vinyl produced a signed copy of Starve that I picked up at the Doom Buggies tribute to The Bags ( was that TT the Bears?) back a while ago. Self Proclaimed Bags dweeb that I am, it’s been played once and it’s next spon on the turn table (tomorrow) is to digitize it before the vinyl disintegrates…
    Miss them and recommend this, Night of the Corn People. Sharpen Your Sticks, he’ll, anything of theirs you can find.
    Searching for my Swamp Oaf college radio tapes next…

  5. 5 tracysigler said at 7:23 pm on May 15th, 2014:

    It’s a great one and too few people know about it. Thanks for the comment.

  6. 6 Baggage Handler said at 7:23 pm on May 15th, 2014:

    I must say that a recent rummaging through my old vinyl produced a signed copy of Starve that I picked up at the Doom Buggies tribute to The Bags ( was that TT the Bears?) back a while ago. Self Proclaimed Bags dweeb that I am, it’s been played once and it’s next spin on the turn table (tomorrow) is to digitize it before the vinyl disintegrates…
    Miss them and recommend this, Night of the Corn People. Sharpen Your Sticks, he’ll, anything of theirs you can find.
    Searching for my Swamp Oaf college radio tapes next.

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